"Can either my boyfriend or I get an STD if we were both virgins before we started having sex?"

Nicole, 16, Santa Barbara, CA

Sexually transmitted infections get passed from person to person, so if neither of you had sex before, the chances of passing an infection to each other are really low.

Still, vaginal sex isn't the only way for infections to be spread. Anytime there is intimate skin-to-skin contact, including kissing, there is the possibility of transmitting an STD. This includes, of course, oral sex.

It's definitely important to remember to use protection whenever you and your partner are having intimate, sexual contact, even if there isn't any penetration. When you have oral sex, remember to use either a condom or a dental damn. If you're really serious about having sex, it's a great idea for you and your partner to get tested for STDs ahead of time just to be on the extra-safe side.